World Cup Semifinals Beckon as Merino Sinks Belgium With Another Late Winner

The World Cup semifinals are taking shape, and Spain have booked their place in the most Spanish way imaginable. Mikel Merino struck another late winner in Los Angeles as La Roja edged Belgium 2-1, ESPN reported. It was the midfielder’s second decisive late goal of the knockout rounds.

Belgium pushed the European champions harder than the scoreline suggests. But tournament football rewards teams that stay calm as the clock runs down. Nobody currently does that better than Spain.

The World Cup semifinals line-up so far

Spain will meet France in Dallas on July 14. That semifinal pairs the tournament’s best midfield against its most explosive forward line. France arrived by beating Morocco 2-0, a match FTD covered in our report on Mbappe’s route to the last four.

The other half of the bracket resolves today. Norway face England in the early quarterfinal. Argentina, the holders, meet Switzerland at night. A Haaland-versus-England duel and a Messi-farewell subplot in the same day is a scheduler’s dream.

A bloated format that keeps delivering

Critics called the 48-team format a commercial stunt. The knockout rounds keep arguing back. Quarterfinals decided by late winners, officiating rows and upset scares have given this World Cup a persistent pulse.

For neutral fans, the equation now is delicious. Two more matches today, then four teams, then history. Spain chase a second straight major title. France chase revenge for Euro 2024. And somewhere in Dallas, a groundsman is already watering the stage.

Merino’s habit has history. His stoppage-time header knocked Germany out of Euro 2024 in the quarterfinals, on the way to Spain’s title. Two years later, the script repeats on a bigger stage. Spain now chase a treble no European side has managed: consecutive major tournaments capped by a World Cup. Belgium, meanwhile, exit with a golden generation’s successors still searching for a semifinal.

Fact basis: ESPN live coverage (July 10-11, 2026), beIN Sports match blog, and Yahoo Sports bracket reporting. Fixture times per ESPN’s July 11 schedule.